Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Presentations & Conferences
Timeline
Generic

Sonam Ojha

Espoo

Summary

Doctoral researcher specializing in climate-smart forestry, forest management, and ecosystem service trade-offs. Experienced in both EU forestry and community-based forestry systems in Nepal, with a focus on climate change mitigation objectives. Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills with field and policy-level experience from Finland and Nepal.

Overview

2026
2026
years of professional experience

Work History

Project Researcher – UTOPIA Project

University of Eastern Finland
01.2024 - Current
  • Conduct research on climate-smart forestry and forest landscape planning in Finland.
  • Analyze opportunity costs and simulate forest management scenarios.
  • Develop decision-support tools for carbon and wood production trade-offs.
  • Support PES scheme design and collaborate with international research teams.

Research Assistant

University of Eastern Finland
12.2019 - 05.2020
  • Supported sustainable forestry and ecosystem service research.
  • Assisted in literature reviews, data handling, and publications.
  • Applied A’WOT method to review Nepal's Community Forests.
  • Produced thesis on stakeholder-driven planning in community forestry.

Program Coordinator

Bellaforest Oy
  • Develop and manage project proposals on afforestation, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation in Finland and internationally.
  • Coordinate project planning, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement for sustainable forestry initiatives.
  • Lead small project teams and ensure delivery of quality outcomes aligned with ecological and social goals.

Program Officer – Hariyo Ban Program

CARE International Nepal
03.2016 - 08.2018
  • Led and supported the development of forest management, climate change adaptation, watershed, and biodiversity plans.
  • Contributed to the design and implementation of PES mechanisms and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies.
  • Coordinated with stakeholders at regional and national levels to align project activities with forest and environmental policy frameworks.
  • Promoted sustainable and multi-use natural resource management practices, ensuring ecological balance.
  • Supported spatial data visualization and mapping of climate-vulnerable regions.
  • Managed project data and contributed to knowledge products for policy and practice.

Education

PhD - Forestry

University of Eastern Finland
12-2027

MSc - Forestry

University of Eastern Finland
Joensuu, Finland
01-2021

BSc - Forestry

Kathmandu Forestry College
Kathmandu, Nepal
01-2015

Skills

  • Data tools: MS tools, R(basic), QGIS(basic), Power BI (basic)
  • Research: AHP, SWOT, A’WOT, stakeholder analysis, simulation and optimization methods
  • Languages: English (fluent), Nepali (native), Hindi (excellent), Finnish (basic)
  • Others: Scientific writing, scientific communication, teamwork

Presentations & Conferences

  • Balancing Wood Production and Carbon Storage in Finnish Landscapes – Poster presentation, European Bio-economy Scientific Forum (EBSF), Finland, 2025
  • Reconciling landscape vs. holding forestry including forest owners’ preferences – Oral presentation, Scandinavian Society of Forest Economics (SSFE) Conference, Norway, 2025

Timeline

Project Researcher – UTOPIA Project

University of Eastern Finland
01.2024 - Current

Research Assistant

University of Eastern Finland
12.2019 - 05.2020

Program Officer – Hariyo Ban Program

CARE International Nepal
03.2016 - 08.2018

Program Coordinator

Bellaforest Oy

PhD - Forestry

University of Eastern Finland

MSc - Forestry

University of Eastern Finland

BSc - Forestry

Kathmandu Forestry College

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